Slicing mechanism



1933- J. M. BULAICH SLICING' MECHANISM Filed July 8, 1931 Patented Feb. 21, 1933 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE SLICING MEGHAN ISM Application filed July 8,

My invention relates to apple slicers, although it may be used to slice other products; more particularly it relates to the class of apple slicers in which pared and cored apples are discharged down a gravitychute from a sulphuring chamber to a revolving carrier unit containing hopper pockets arranged to ca'rrythe apples against a bank of stationary slicing knives whereby the apples are cut into thin slices. i

In slicers of this description it is desirable to deposit two, or at most three, apples in each and every pocket, thus allowing no pocketto pass the knives either empty or overloaded. This has not hitherto been accomplished partly on account of the apples being discharged sporadically from the sulphuring means insteadof coming in a steady continuous manner.

It is also desirable to arrange the pockets so that they may be caused to lean forward in the direction of the knives in such manner that the apples will slide over the base instead of rolling; it is further desirable that this lean forward be. adjustable to apples graded to diflerent sizes, whereby a more acute angle 'may be present to back up the smaller sizes.

It is also desirable to cut the bottom slice thicker than those above so as not to break said lowest slice on account of its being weakened by its rounded lower conformation.

' The objects of invention therefore comprise the following desiderata:-

To provide a bafiling element adapted to dam the apples at the lower end of the chute, so as to collect them in a body, and transfer them positively two or three at a time from the baffling point into the adjacent pocket or pockets.

To provlde a carrier unit comprising a plurality of carrier elements superimposed one above the other, suitably spaced apart and bolted together to revolve about a central, pivotal, stationary shaft; said elements all being suitably and evenly spaced apart with exception that the lowest element has a- 5 greater spacebetweenlit and the base than exists between said individual elements, the

1931. Serial No. 549,489.

idea being to cut the bottom slice thicker than the others so as not to break the ring.

To providemeans to rotate said unitfrom below. 7 v

To providea baflling element driven from said carrier unit and so arranged as to revolve in the opposite direction to that of the unit.

, To provide means to vary the lean forward of the pockets to suit apples of different graded sizes, whereby the apple is held from rolling when being carried around to the knives. Q 7

To provide a full anti-friction apparatus in all its bearings, and made of non-corrosive material in all its parts exposed to the action of the fruit juices.

To provide a guard restricting the direction of the apples to the hoppers they are intended to occupy while being transferred from the chute; and further objects and advantages which may appear as the specification unfolds, which are particularly pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the a'c'com panying drawing hereto attached and made part hereof, in which I Figure 1 is a top plan view of my invention. 7

Figure 2 is a section taken on II II of Figure 1 Figure 3 is a plan view of a carrier unit.

Figure 4 is a section taken through the feed-element bearings, taken on the line IVIV of Figure 1 s Figure 5 is a top plan view of the base showing the discharge opening and pivotal shaft.

Figure 6 is an isometrical view of one embodiment of said feed-member.

the line Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the feed-element pinion. v

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the driven bevel wheel. I a

Figure 9 is a view of the pivotal stem and its base. V 7

Figure 10 is an approximate development of the guard. v 7

Similar reference indicia refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

In carrying out my invention I provide unit comprises a plurality of carrier elements G, well shown in Figure 3,.each elementccmprehending the central'portion 11 perforated with the arcuate slots 12, for a purpose tobe described, and the center hole 13 adapted to be a working fit abouttsaidistem said pow tion is bounded by the concentric rim 14 from which at" regular intervals the curved limbs 15 extend to carry the peripheral rim 16; Each said carrierelement is set apart from its companion by a spacer member 17 ofequal thickness, whereas the lowest" spacer 18, which is'disposed above the level of said base is substantially thicker than the others.

The anti-friction bearing 19 rests upoirthe flange 8, the bevel gear 20 (Figure 8) isprovid'ed .with the ourna-l hole 21' and'the respective counter-sunk holes to accommodate the heads of the bolts 23. Said bolts may be of any suitable number, preferably six, as is well shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The bolts. 23 pass. up through the respective spacers which are bored to receive them as they have no radial movement about said boltsz. with the carrier elementsC it is different because said bolts pass through the arcuate slots 12 whichpermit, the respective elements tobe adjusted so as to vary the-forwand lean of. each. individual. hopper, thereby varying its contained angle with; respect to'the-base 5, themore acute angle being. for the smaller apples.

The plate 2.4 is drilled tosuit said bolts and rests fiat down on top of the uppermost element C.. The tubular. spacers 25,. all of even length, support the perforated gear pla-te-26'at a suitableheight abovetheplate 24, the bolts 23 being of such length that when the respective nuts 27 areapplied and screwed home the respectiveelements C are converted into theunit B: revoluble about the stem 10 with the gear'2don the bottom. The bevel pinion 28, fast to the shaft 29, engages sair gear, the shaft being journalcd in the respective antifrictionbearings 30.'and 31 and provided with the drive pulley 32 or' other suitable means such as a. sprocket or gear;

It will now be noted that theunit'B- may be handled as a separate unit which can be slipped on or off the stem 10 at will.

The top of said stem may be reduced as shown at'33, Figure 9, or left plain as in Figure 4. The center cap-bearing 34' its over the top of said stem in either'case and secures thereto by the set-screw 35; The outer capbearing 36- fits over the top of the stem 37 rigidly supported by a member of the frame A.

Said bearings are provided with the antifriction means 3838 which journal the shaft 39 that carries the revoluble baffle element D. Said element comprising a plurality of paddle-like vanes 40 adaptedand arranged to be revolved by engagement of the toothed wheel 41. with. the perforated gear plate 26, said wheel being fast to said shaft.

It will be noted that the chute E forms means to'convey apples from a source of supply to the element D, the respective sides 42 and: 43 of said-chutebeing supported by the respective bearings 34 and 36. Slats as 44 form the bedof the chute which rises from said bafile element at asuitable angle for apples to slide'down'gently without rolling.

The outer end of the guard 45 secures to the chute E and curves round as shown in Figure 1 to guide the apples into the hoppers, the body of said guard being; suitably indented at 46and 47 to clearthe unit Band to provide thetang 48 whichv attaches to, the bearing 34, as well shown in Figure 1.

In operation, when the drive means 32 is rotated:counter-clockwise the pinion. 28' drives the gear 20 clockwise, thereby rotating the unit B and the gear-plate 26 clockwise.

The toothed wheel 41- fast to the shaft 39 being meshed with the holes 49 ofthe gear plate 26 actuatesthe baflie element D counter clockwise thereby causing the vanes 40 to, pick up the nearest apples andv deposit them in the empty oncoming-hoppers that carry them against the conventional knives which slice them, whereupon they fall through the gap 6' into any suitable receptacle. Said knives being old in the art and forming no part of the present invention need not be described in detail.

It is believed that my invention and the advantages to be gained by the use thereof are fully explained. In reducing the invention to practice, certain minor features in construction, combination and arrangement of'parts may necessitate alteration, to which the patentee is entitled, providing such alteration is comprehended in the scope of what is claimed.

What I claim is 1. An apple slicing mechanism comprising astructural frame, a stationary base secured to the frame, a discharge gap in the base, a central stationary vertical shaft secured to the frame, a revoluble unit journaled on the shaft and comprising alternately disposed carrier elements and spacers, a spacer between said unit and said base, a bevel gear beneath the latter spacer, a clamping plate contacting with the upper surface of the upper element, a perforated gear plate disposed above the clamping plate in spaced relation thereto, bolts passing through the carrier elements, spacersand gears to form said revoluble unit,

LOO

a cap bearing carried by said shaft, a cap bearing of equal height carried by said frame outwardly of the diameter of said unit, a horizontal shaft mounted in said cap bearing, a

revoluble baflle element fast to said horizontal shaft and a pinion fast to said horizontal shaft and engaging said perforated gear.

2. A mechanism as specified in claim 1, each carrier element provided with a central bearing opening and a plurality of arcuate slots to accommodate passage of said bolts and permit radial displacement of said carrier in relation to said bolts.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, this 30th day of June, 1931.

JOHN M. BULAIOH. 

